ATHERTON, Calif. — Playing Saturday on the road at Cartan Field, Cal State East Bay turned in a complete performance on both sides of the ball, defeating Menlo College 17-3 to claim the second game of the three-game series. The Pioneers struck for three runs in the first inning, weathered a brief Menlo push in the middle frames and then broke the game open with a six-run fifth on the way to improving to 3-3 overall.
Cal State East Bay set the tone immediately in the top of the first inning. Dominick Najar, Gio Martini and Logan Stelling opened the game with consecutive singles to produce the first run. Dylan Unangst followed with a walk to load the bases with no outs, and Ben Johnston delivered a two-run single to give the Pioneers a 3-0 advantage before an out was recorded.
The lead grew in the top of the second inning when Darel Dalen led off with a single, moved to second on a balk and advanced to third on another hit by Najar. A wild pitch allowed Dalen to score, extending the margin to 4-0.
Menlo responded with a run in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded walk and closed the gap to one in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run by DJ Cardinal, cutting the East Bay lead to 4-3.
Any momentum the Oaks gained was short-lived. In the top of the fourth, Najar continued his torrid start to the season by launching a solo home run, pushing the Pioneers back in front by two at 5-3.
Cal State East Bay then delivered the decisive inning in the top of the fifth, sending a steady stream of runners across the plate. A bases-loaded walk to Cale Chance began the rally, followed by a two-run double from Dalen. Chance later scored on a wild pitch, Dalen crossed the plate during a double play, and Stelling added an RBI single as the Pioneers plated six runs to open up an 11-3 lead.
The offense stayed aggressive in the top of the seventh. Najar knocked in another run with an RBI single, then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error before scoring on Cristian Angulo's sacrifice fly to make it 13-3.
East Bay capped the scoring in the top of the ninth by capitalizing on Menlo defensive miscues. Four runs came home in the inning, highlighted by a two-run double from William James, pushing the lead to 17-3. Jack Harper retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
Najar was a catalyst all afternoon, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs, a home run, a walk and a stolen base. Stelling, James, Dalen and Johnston each drove in two runs, as the Pioneers piled up consistent production throughout the lineup. On the mound, Derek Murphy earned the win with four innings of scoreless relief, striking out six to steady the game after Menlo's early scoring.
East Bay has scored double digit runs in its last three road games.
The Pioneers return to Pioneer Baseball Field on Sunday, February 8, for the series finale against Menlo. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Hayward, beginning a stretch of nine consecutive home games for Cal State East Bay.
